Compare towns
Bartlett vs Needham vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bartlett has the most affordable homes ($371k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Bartlett | Needham | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,281Lowest |
32,459Highest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.4±4.7Highest 48% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 7.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 36.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.1%±0.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,754±$9kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,400±$78kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,676±$97Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,512Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.5%±37.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bartlett and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #74 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bartlett School District | — | Needham |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.